The first official representation of the Vatican and the Catholic world in Türkiye took place during the reign of Mehmet the Conqueror. During that time, Papacy was allowed to have a permanent representative in Istanbul.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 11 April 1960 following the visit of President Celal Bayar to the Vatican in 1959 and his meeting with Pope John XXIII. Subsequently, mutual embassies were opened and the Turkish Embassy in the Vatican became operational in 1962.

The first Papal visit to Türkiye was made by Pope Paul VI in 1967, followed by the visits of Pope John Paul II in 1979, Benedict XVI in 2006 and Pope Francis in 2014.

President Erdoğan paid a visit to the Vatican on February 5, 2018.